Pipe or tube protector



Nov. l, i938., A. osBoRN PIPE ORTUBE PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 19, 1954 f4 DEN ATTORNEYS INVENTOR E Oso/m/ Patented Nov. l, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,134,730 y PIPE on. 'rena Pno'rnc'ron Application December 19 1934, Serial No. 758,238

1 Claim.

'This invention relates to improvements in pipe or tube protectors, adapted to be attached to pipes or other articles which have a shoulder spaced from their ends, and to the novel means whereby such attachment is accomplished.

One of its objects is to provide a simple and inexpensive protective device which may be applied easily to such an article to prevent injury thereto.

Another objects is to so construct the device that it may close the end of the article to keep out dirt. It may be used also to keep the interior of the article dry and to protect itfrom injurious atmospheric conditions.

In its broader aspect, it relates to a novel means of attaching one article to another which has an external shoulder, by cooperation with such a shoulder.

These and other objects will appear in the following specification in which I will describe the invention, the novel features of which will be set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an end portion of an externally threaded pipe with a coupling on it, with a device which embodies this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the 3o line 2-2 of the latter figure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a slightly modifled form of the device shown in the preceding iigures;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation oi' a pipe with an upset or enlarged end, with another form oi my device applied to it;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional side elevation on a larger scale of the end portion oi another form of pipe with a cover of a further modiiied form applied to it;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the end portion of a coupling or pipe and oi' a portion of a cover illustrating another modification of construction;

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the end portion oi' a two-piece protector which also embodies my invention shown in process of construction; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the end 5o portion or the form of protector shown in Fig. 7 in its completed condition and positioned over the end of a coupling.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I0 designates the end portion of an externally threaded pipe with a coupling ii on it which forms a shoulder I2. 20 is a cylindrical shell `adapted to pass over the outside of the coupling. Its outer ends is depressed to form a cylindrical boss 2i of less diameter than that of the threads of the coupling. In this case its outer end is shown closed by an integral 5 portion 22. The inner end of the shell is cut away to form a plurality of spaced lugs 23. It is enlarged, as shown at 29, to stiilen its outer end.

When this device is positioned over the coupling the lugs 23 are bent down back of the shoulder 10 I2, as shown at 23A, to attach the device to the pipe and coupling.

In Fig.-3 a wire 24 is shown as passed over the lugs with its ends twisted together, as at 25. The ends o1' the lugs are bent outwardly to 15 prevent longitudinal displacementv of the wire. Obviously this wire forms with the lugs a more secure attachment of the device. It may be used to bend the lugs inwardly.

It is important that the outer end oi the shell zo extend inwardly over` the end of the article to which it is applied. Its central part may be left open or it may be closed by a iiat portion indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 at 22A, but I prefer the dished-in construction shown in Fig, 1 25 as this forms a convenient recess for engagement of a hook for moving the pipe and. of course, hooks may be used without injury to the thread of the coupling.

The lugs 23 form a convenient arrangement for 30 bending the inner end oi' the shell back of the shoulder. but are not an essential part of the construction.

In Fig. 4 the pipe I0 is shown with an upset or enlarged end I3 (in this case externally threaded) 35 which forms a beveled shoulder I2A. The outer end of the shell 20A is of the form shown in Fig. 1, but its inner end is constructed as shown, to enable the use of the method oi' attachment which is shown and claimed in my Patent No. 40 1,949,431, dated March 6, 1934. Near its inner end the shell is constructed to form an annular channel 26 around the beveled shoulder 12A and an opening 21 is provided for the insertion of a iiexible element 30, such as a cord, wire or other 45 material. An end 3| ot the iiexible element extends through a clearance between the end of the shell and the pipe I0 into a position where it may be held against rotation relative to the pipe. Its other end 32 is passed through the opening 21. 5o By a relative rotation of the pipe and the shell the iiexible element is drawn into the channel 2l. Continued rotation will cause enough of this exible element to be drawn into the space between the channel and the beveled shoulder to exert a 55 considerable lateral pressure upon both of them which securely attaches the protector to the pipe. The incline of the shoulder creates a longitudinal component of pressure which tends to move the sleeve onto the pipe. With this arrangement, the end of the pipe is edectively sealed. Y

The same method of attachment is shown in Fig. in which the device is shown applied to the end o! a pipe having another kind of shoulder and is of a form suitable for use on a victaulic pipe, for example. The end 22B is in this ngure shown open with a block 4l of wood, for example, placed within the boss 2i to close it. 'Ihe pipe IOA in this figure is shown as bent back upon itself, as at Il, to form a shoulder IIB.

The outer end of the shells of any o! the pre-` ceding ilgures may be constructed as shown in Fig. 6 with an inturned end 2l with a disk 4i interposed between it and the end of the coupling il or any other article to which the device is applied. The disk may be of frangible material to permit the insertion of a rod for moving the In Fig. 'I an outer end member is shown which forms a boss 2 IA, closed as at 22B, and a cylindricai part Il. The end ofy an outer shell 20B is shown bent around and under the part 50 at Il in Fig. '1, and in Fig. lithese parts, 50 and 5|, are shown bent together to form the completed end. The outer shell is bent inwardly, as at 52, to form a projecting ilange 28B. This construction has the advantage of not only easily permitting one portion of the protector casing to be of lighter gauge than another part, thus reducing weight and cost, but also. by enabling several thicknesses of metal to be placed in the seam between the sleeve and end parts and so placing the seam that it comes over the most vulnerable part of the article to be protected, greatly increasing the protection given to said vulnerable part.

Many modications of structure may be made within the scope and spirit of this invention, as may be seen from those shown for illustrative purpos, and the invention is capable of other uses than those which have been described. I therefore intend no limitations other than those imposed by the following claim.

What I claim is:

A protector for a tubular part to be protected, said part to be protected having a cylindrical portion provided with an enlarged end forming a shoulder spaced from the end thereof, said protector comprising a sleeve adapted to cover said enlarged end and the adjacent portion of the part to be protected and providing a circumferential recess therein and exible retaining means in said recess and disposed against the shoulder of the enlarged end and substantially lling the recess and serving to anchor the sleeve against said shoulder, said retaining means being adapted to be inserted into the recess by relative rotation between the part to be protected and the sleeve of the protector.

ALDEN E. OSBORN. 

